Process of making sheet-metal frames



' July 3,1928

w. o. SHELDON PROCESS OF MAKING SHEET METAL FRAMES Filed June 23, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 fWi 61 fzfi q.

' INVENTOR )1 0 AJTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928.

- UNITED STATES PATENT" oFF1cE.-

WILLIAM O. SHELDON, OF LAKEWOOD,-OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TEE YODFBGLEVELAND,-OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. v i

rnocnss or MAKING SHEET-METAL rnmns.

1 Application filed June 23, 1925. Serial No. 89,077.

r This invention relates to'a process of makmg frames for mounting sheetmaterial,

I panels, wire'screens and thelike, whereby ing out of the first step ofmy process.

the sheet -is ;s'up'ported along its sidas and ends and a unitarystructure is provided, thus enabling the shfeet to be handled andsupported in various ways. The invention has reference to the process ofmaking frames from sheet metal and the object of the invention is toprovide a relatively simple process whereby speed of operation andincreasedoutput is obtained, and *the assembly of the sections oftheframe greatly facilitated. V i J 4 Other objects of the invention willbe apparent to' those skilled in'the art to which my invention relatesfrom the following de-.

scription taken in connection with the acd companying drawings, .whereinI have shown one form of shapin and bending elements suitableofperforming the steps of my process. L

In these drawings, 3 Y

Fig. 1 is a plan yiew of a section of sheet metal showing its shapefollowing thecarry- Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5,. 6, and 7 areelevational views ofsuitable shaping elements showing the successive operations or steps inmaking the frame,

. Fig. a plan view of a frame in assembled position; Inqthis latterfigure I segments 1 and-end "segments 1", which segments form theframing for a wire screen or a suitable panel, sheet of material and thelike'wliich is to beimounted and supported for handling purposes. Fig. 9is an end'view of the frame. I Fig. '10is asection on the line 1010 ofFigs. 8 and 9. Y I

In carrying out the first step of my process, I take a stripof sheetmetal of the desired gauge and cut it into lengths or sections 2 eachequalling the aggregate length of the segments 1?, 1, 1 1", whichconsti' tute .the sides and ends 'of the mountingframe indicated as anentirely at 1 in Fig. I 8; and I also cut in the oppositelongitudinaledges of the section 2 aligned V-shaped' notches 2, theapexes of which are aligned with each other and coincide with imaginarylongitudinal lines 2*, which are parallel'and spaced apart a distanceequal to the width of the end walls 3 of the completed frame 1.

The pairs of V-shaped notches 2 are spaced from each other and from theopposite ends of the section according to. the length of each framesegment, so that when the section is bent on transverse lines 13,cuttingthe apexes of the Y-shapednotches 2',

they will co-operateto form 'the frame 1. i

sponding to the sides of a V shape notch, .so

that when thetwo ends abut they constitute one corner of the frame 1.

Next I pass the section 2 between a pair of rolls 4, one having in itscircumference midway between itsside edges. a V groove 4 and the otherhaving a correspondingly arranged complementary V rib 4", which coact toroll a V-shaped wall 5 in the section 2,

from end to endthereof, the apex of the groove being centrally of thelines 2 and the v lateral edges of the V wall 5 being coincident withsaidlines. Next, I pass the section 2 between a pair of rolls6 theperipheries of WlllCh correspond in shape-to the peripheries of therolls 4, but one thereof is provided withflanges 6", which bend upwardlythe longitndinal edges of the section 2 between adjoining notches 2' andthe outerrnotches and the ends of the section'toform end walls 7. Next,I pass the metal section 2 between a pair of rolls 8 whose peripheriescorrespond in .shape with the peripheries of the rolls 4 and 6, exceptthat theirwalls S at either slde of the complementary groove'4 and rib 4are complementary shaped to bend the section 2 on the longitudinal lines2? to po'sitionthe portions or walls 8 between the l-shaped-wall 5 andend walls? at anglesto each other as shown in Fig. 4. Next, I pass themetal section 2 through a pair, of rolls 9 having a complementary groove4 and-rib 4", but having complementary walls 9 at either side ofthegroove 4 and rib 4" arranged to bend the section 2 along the lines 2 todecrease the angular relations between the portions 8". as shown in Fig.5,

andto bring the end walls 7 into closer relationship. Next, I passthesection of metal 2; between a pair of rolls.10 having acom- 'plementarygroove 4 and a complementary groove 4 and one of which is provided withperipheral bendin walls 10? which engage the portions 8 of the section 2to further a bend thein along the lines2 to further decrease the angularrelation between them and to move the end walls 7 into still closerrelationship for the final operation. Next, I

"annular wall 12 provided on the rib thereof.

ing to the width of each segment of the frame land the other of which isprovided with a rib 11 which fits within the groove 11 to section 2, theside walls of the groove 11 serving to bend the portions 8 along thelines 2 into parallel relationship and the periphery of the rib 11engage the formed engaging with the side walls 7 and through themforcing the section inwardly of the roll 11 to insure final shaping ofthe walls 8", and simultaneously while shaping the section 2 between therolls 11, 11, I straighten the walls 3 to make it flat from side edge toside edge'andspace the end walls 7 from .-each other, this step beingperformed by an 11 and disposed midway between the side edges As shownin Fig. 7, this rib projects inwardly between the end walls 7 in linewith the apex of the rib and engages therewith to. roll the walls of therib 5 outwardly or flat against the bottom wall of the groove 11". Thewall 12 is preferably equal in width to the panel or sheet. which is tobe supported by and mounted in the frame 1 and accordingly it spaces theend edges of the end walls 7 apart sufficiently to permit the insertionof the panel in the final assembly of the'frame. 0

Finally, I bend the section 2 on the transverse lines 13, which coincidewith the apexes of the V. shaped grooves 2, to bend the frame segmentsat substantially right angles to each other and position the panelbetween the end walls with its free edges disposed within the segmentwalls; following which I solder the ends 14 of the section'to each otherto complete the frame 1 with the panel mounted within. In positioningthe frame segments, the notches 2' permit their side walls to abut :endto end to complete the corners and provide a smooth continuous surfacearound the frame 1. The sheet or panel is preferably cut to a size tofit within the walls 3.

For illustrative purposes I have shown a frame 1 having segmentseach ofwhich is of substantially rectangular shape in cross section, but itWlll be obvious that the cross sectional'shape thereof may be changed invarious ways. It will also be obvious that either end of the section 2may be provided with an extension which may overlap the opposite endthereof when the frame is finally completed and assembled to moresecurely hold the ends together.

Myinvention is advantageous since all the sides of the frame 1 are madefrom a single ia'waaaa In my rocess I eliminate all waste of materialexcept that resulting from the forming of the notches 2) for tworeasons,

walls have overlapping por- (1) none of the tions or extensions'usuallyrequired to hold them in bent-up position and relation and (2) the stripmay be cut to the exact shape required in forming the complete frame. Byusing a minimum amount of material, I am. enabled to reduce the weightof the frame. i To those skilled in the art to which my lnventionrelates widely differing embodiments of my invention will suggestthemselves without any departing from the spirit andscope thereof. Mydisclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and notintended to be in any sense limiting.

While I prefer to pass the sections 2 through several sets or pairs ofrolls to bend the side walls 8 into parallel relation, it is obviousthat they may be positioned with a.

Vhat I claim is:

1. The herein disclosed processof making frames for panels, sheets andthe like, which consists n first forming a sheet metal strip mtosections of predetermined length each section having pairs of V-shapednotches in its side edges spaced from each other-and from the ends ofthe strip to form the sides and ends of the frame, then in forminglongitudinally of the strip midway between 1ts side edges a V-shapedgroove, then in forming along its longitudinal ,side edges end walls,then in-bending the side walls between sald groove and said end wallstoward each other along the lateral edges of said V-shaped groove, thenin straightening the walls of the V-shaped groove to form the outer endwalls of the frame and moving the side walls toward each other toposition the inner end, walls, thn'in bending the strip on transverselines coincident with the apexes of the V-shaped notches, and finallyassociating a panel or. sheet between the inner end walls and connectingthe ends of the strip together:

2. The herein disclosed process of making frames for panels, sheets andthe like, which conslsts in first forming a sheet metal stripsectionhavingpairs of V-shaped notches in ts side edges spaced fromeach' other and from the ends of the strip to form the sides and ends ofthe frame, then in forming into sections of predetermined length eachlongitudinally of the strip midway between its side edges a V-shapedgroove, then in forming along its longitudinal side edges end walls,then in bending the side walls between said groove and said end wallstoward each other along the lateral edges of said V-shaped groove, andthen in straightening the walls of the V-shaped oove to form the outerend walls of the rame and moving the side walls toward each other toposition the inner end walls, and finallyjn bending the strip ontransverse lines coincident with the apexes of the V-shaped notches.

3. The herein disclosed process of making frames for anels, sheets andthe like, which consists in first forming a sheet metal strip intosections of predetermined length eachsection having pairs of V-shapednotches in its side edges spaced from each other and from the ends ofthe strip to form the sides and ends of the frame, then in forminglongitudinally of the strip midway between its side edges a \l-shapedgroove, then in forming along its lon itudinal side edges end walls,then in bending the side walls between said groove and said end wallstoward each other along the lateral edges of said V-shaped groove, thenin straightening the walls of the V-shaped groove to form the outer endwalls of the frame and moving the side walls toward each other toposition thdie vinner end walls and spacing. the free e ges finallbending the strip on transverse lines coincident to the apexes of theV-shaped notches to position the sides and ends of the frame at anglesto eachother.

In testimony. whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM o. snnnnou.

of the end walls from eachother, and

